Display stand



R. F. REX

DISPLAY STAND Jan. 19, 1965 Filed April 3. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 V 2 6 o 6 Z i W, M, 8 a 1 V 1 M 6 W Fla. 3

Fl 6. Z

Fl 6. l

lNvEHTOR R m F R x 8mg ATTORNEY DISPLAY STAND Filed AP111 s, 1964 2 Sheets-s 2 Fteh 22 NVEHTQ RNE United States Patent 3,166,193 DEEPLAY STAND Roger F. Rex, Hales (Iorners, Wis, assignor to Display Qorporation, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Apr. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 357,192 14 Claims. (Cl. 211-4) This invention relates to a display stand for writing implements and, more particularly, to an improved pilferproof display stand of this type.

It is desirable that Writing implements, such as pens, pencils and the like, be displayed prominently and in a manner to be readily accessible to the consumer so that its mode of operation, for example, can be examined by the consumer. However this also exposes the writing implements to repeated handling which presents the problem of the writing implements becoming disarranged thereby destroying the uniformity and appeal of the overall display and/or being damaged due to repeated rough handling. Furthermore, when so displayed writing implements, because of their size, are susceptible to being stolen.

This invention has for one of its objects the provision of a display stand for writing implements which will display writing implements prominently and in such a manner that they are readily accessible but are maintained in an orderly arrangement, are not exposed to rough handling, and such that the possibility of theft of the writing implements from the display stand is minimized.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a display stand which affords maximum capacity while occupying a minimum of counterspace.

For the achievement of these and other objects, this invention proposes a display stand which includes a writing implement holder which is supported for movement with respect to the remainder of the stand between first and second positions. The implement holder supports the writing implements loosely so that they can be moved relative to the holder. A stop is provided on the stand and associated with the holder in such a manner that in the first position of the holder it limits movement of the writing implement and interferes with and prevents their withdrawal from the holder, Whereas, when the holder is in its second position the stop is clear of the holder to permit removal of the writing implements without any interference. With this arrangement, the writing implements are capable of only limited movement when the holder is in one of its positions to thereby reduce the amount of rough handling to which they are subjected as well as minimizing the possibility of theft of writing implements from the stand. The Writing implements may, however, be freed for removal by moving the holder to its other position. Preferably the display stand is also provided with a latch which is movable relative to the holder selectively to prevent movement of the holder from its first position to its second position so that, in order to withdraw writing implements, the latch must be released as well as the holder moved to clear the stop.

The novel features of this invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more clearly understood from a reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a display stand embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

"Ice

1 and illustrating the writing implement holder in its position wherein writing implements cannot be Withdrawn from the display stand;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating the writing implement holder in its position wherein the writing implements are released for removal from the display stand; and

FIG. 6 is a section view along line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in the drawings, a display stand constructed in accordance with this invention includes an elongated, vertically extending body It supported on a base consisting of spaced legs 12 and 14 connected to body 10 by screws 16.

structurally, body 10 includes backing panel 18, side portions 2% and 22 extending coextensively with panel 18, and top and bottom portions 24 and 26. Panel 18 is arranged intermediate the edges of side portions 20 and 22 so that the side portions extend beyond or laterally of the front face of panel 18 (i.e. the face to the right as viewed in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) to provide a writing implement stop as will be discussed more completely hereinafter.

An elongated slot 30 is formed in panel 18 intermediate side portions 20 and 22 and cooperates in mounting writing implement holder 32 in the display stand. More particularly, holder 32 includes base portion 34, a mounting and connecting portion 36 on one side of base 34 and a plurality of writing implement receivers 38 arranged on the opposite side of the base. Mounting portion 36 is planar to be freely movable-in slot 30, the slot being longer than the mounting portion to permit vertical movement of the holder.

Mounting portion 36 includes apertures 40, 42 and 44 spaced vertically with respect to each other. The apertures are generally U-shaped with aperture 40 including vertical legs 46 and 48 connected by web 50, aperture 42 including vertical legs 52 and 54 connected by Web 56, and aperture 44 including vertical legs 58 and 60 connected by web 62. Mounting strips 64 and 66 are fixed to and extend from the rear face of panel 18 on either side of slot 30. Screws 68, 70 and 72 pass through the mounting strips and are held in position by nuts 74, 76 and '78. The spacing between the screws corresponds to that between apertures 40, 42 and 44 and the screws and apertures cooperate to connect the holder in the display stand and in a manner to permit movement of the holder relative to body 10. Strips 64 and 66 provide guides for movement of the mounting portion in slot 30.

With this arrangement the holder is movable between two positions with respect to panel 18 and side portions 20 and 22. In a first position illustrated in FIG. 4, and in full lines in FIG. 6, base 34 is in engagement with panel 18 and in a second position illustrated in FIG. 5, and in dotted lines in FIG. 6, base 34 is spaced outwardly of the panel.

Webs 5t 56 and 62 afford communication between their respective vertical legs to permit this movement of the holder and it will be noted that the Webs are preferably formed at an angle to the horizontal. Providing U-shaped apertures and arranging the connecting webs at an angle requires positive and deliberate movement of the holder assembly to effect movement between its two positions, i.e. movement including both horizontal and vertical component. Accordingly, holder 32 must move vertically in moving between its positions in the display stand. Latch 80 is supported from the rear face of panel 18 on a screw 82 and is selectively operable to prevent movement of the holder from its first position with base 34 in engagement with panel 18. The latch is preferably arranged above the holder, in this instance above mounting portion 36 and can be positioned in alignment with the mounting portion to interfere with vertical movement of the holder.

The latch is arranged so that when so aligned it limits vertical movement of the holder to an amount insufficient to permit movement of the holder to its second position. When it is desired to move the holder to itssecond position the latch can be pivoted to either side, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to clear the holder. Finger portion 99 is provided on the mounting portion of'the holder to facilitate manipulation of the holder between its positions.

structurally writing implement receivers 38 are generally cylindrical and are arranged on base 34 in relative spaced vertical relationship and at the same angle to the horizontal. The lateral extension of side portions 20 and 22 (particularly projection 22) and the position of receivers 38 when-base 34 is engaged with panel 13 is such that projection 22 is in the path of and interferes withmovement of writing implements out of receivers 38 and projection 22 functions in the nature of a stop to' prevent withdrawal of the writing implements. To rcmove the writing implements, holder 32 is moved to its second position wherein its base, and receivers 38, are spaced outwardly from panel 18 so that the receivers are clear of projection 22.

It will be noted that slot 30 is offset and arranged nearer projection 22 than projection 2%, this offset is preferable to accommodate the common writing implement construction whereby a clip extends from one end of the writing implement a distance which is generally less than one-half the length of the writing implement so that it does not terminate at the midpoint of the writing implement. An example of one such writing implement 84 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and clip 86 thereof engages receivers 38 with the extension of writing implement 34 to the right of the holder, as viewed in the drawings, being less than to the left. The offset slot accommodates this difference in extension and limits movement of the writing implement 84 to prevent its withdrawal. Accordingly, when holder 32 is positioned with base 34 in engagement with panel 18, writing implements supported in receivers 38 are locked in the display device and when the holder is moved to its second position the writing implements are clear of projection 22 and can be freely withdrawn from the holder without interference. This construction is pil fer-proof in the sense that the writing implements cannot be removed from the pen holder unless the pen holder is moved to the position wherein its base 34 is spaced laterally of panel 18 to clear. receivers 38 of projection 22.

The pin and slot connection provided by cooperation of screws 68, 70 and 72 with apertures 40, 42 and 44 requires deliberate movement of the holder assembly to sheet this release and, moreover, with latch 84? two hands are required to accomplish that movement. Thus any attempt at unauthorized withdrawal of the writing implement can only be accomplished by reaching to the rear of the display to manipulate the latch and holder assembly, this is time consuming and requires obvious movements on the part of anyone attempting such unauthorized with drawal thereby exposing them to detection. it will be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment projection 20 could be eliminated from an operational standpoint but is included to preserve the symmetry of the display device. Furthermore, with a modification in the relationship of the elements, the display device could be made reversible so that writing implements could be supported at the angle illustrated or oppositely angled so that both projections 20 and 22 would be operational.

The vertically arranged writing implement receivers provide maximum capacity of writing implements while utilizing a minimum of counterspace. The display stand is generally arcuate in vertical section to'add further to the capacity and appearance of the stand with the panel, side portions and holder all having a corresponding curvature to preserve the symmetry of the stand and the functional cooperation between the receivers 38 and projection 22.

The particular mounting afforded by the arrangement of elements 38 and projections 2d and 222 permits handling of the writing implements but prevents withdrawal thereof so that an orderly display is maintained, prevents rough handling of the writing implements reducing the danger of damage to the writing implements and minimizes the danger of theft. 7

To further enhancethe orderliness of the display, the upper end 38a of each of the writing implement receivers SS is angled with respect to the axis of the receiver. Angled ends 33a guide the clips to the front and the writing implements are held in and will return to a uniform orientation due to gravity thereby maintaining an orderly display.

' Although butone embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and. described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What 1 claim is:

1. A display stand for writing implements comprising, in combination,

a base,

a body member extending vertically from said base and including a panel portion, at least one vertical portion defining a surface extending laterally of said panel portion, and an elongated, vertically extending slot spaced horizontally from said lateral surface,

a Writing implement holder including a planar mounting portion disposed in said slot for movement therein and a writing implement receiving portion spaced from said lateral surface,

said receiving portion including a plurality of vertically spaced hollow receivers arranged in relative parallel relation and each disposed at an angle to the vertical and opening toward said lateral surface,

said mounting portion including a plurality of generally U-shaped apertures each including horizontally spaced, upwardly directed legs connected by an openmg,

and pin means fixed on said panel portion and engaged in each of said apertures,

said holder being movable on said pin means relative to said body member for selectively engaging said pin means in said legs to determine first and second positions of said holder relative to said body member with one position being spaced laterally of the other position with respect to said panel portion, said lateral surface having a predetermined extension from said panel portion to be positioned in the path of movement of writing implements from said receivers when said holder is in its first position and to be spaced from said path of movement when said holder is in its second position.

2. The display stand of claim 1 including latch means mounted on said panel for movement into a position in the path of movement of said holder to engage and limit travel of said holder to an amount insuflicient to move said holder from its first position to its second position and in the path of movement of said holder to free said holder for movement to its second position.

3. The display stand-of claim 2 wherein said opening connecting said legs is disposed at an angle to the horizontal so that movement of said holder between its positions has a vertical and a horizontal component.

4. The display stand of claim 3 wherein said receivers and said lateral surface are disposed on one side of said panel and said latch means is disposed on the opposite side thereof.

5. The display stand of claim 4 wherein said mounting portion extends through said panel and said latch means includes a latch member pivotally mounted on said panel above said mounting portion of said holder for selective positioning in the path of vertical movement of said mounting portion.

6. The display stand of claim 1 wherein said panel is generally arcuate in vertical cross section, and said holder and lateral surface are arcuate and conform to said panel.

7. The display stand of claim 1 wherein said panel includes first and second vertical portions defining surfaces extending laterally of said panel portion and spaced from each other with said slot therebetween, said slot being horizontally offset toward one of said lateral surfaces.

8. A display stand for Writing implements comprising, in combination,

a vertically extending body member including a panel portion, a vertically extending portion projecting laterally from said panel portion, and an elongated, vertical slot spaced horizontally from said laterally projecting portion,

an elongated writing implement holder having a writing implement receiving portion and mounting means positioned in said vertical slot,

said Writing implement receiving portion including a .plurality of hollow vertically spaced, angularly disposed writing implement receivers arranged in parallel relationship and opening toward said laterally projecting portion,

one of said mounting means and said panel portion including vertically spaced pin means fixed thereon and the other including vertically spaced pairs of pin receiving notches, the notches of each pair being horizontally spaced apart and having open communication therebetween so that relative horizontal movement between said pin means and notches can be effected to engage said pin means selectively in one of said notches and to move said holder relative to said panel portion between first and second positions determined by said notches,

the inner notch of each of said pairs arranged, with respect to said panel portion, said Writing implement receiving poltion and said laterally projecting portion, to position said writing implement receivers Within the extension of said laterally projecting portion when said pin means are engaged therein so that said laterally projecting portion is disposed in the path of movement .of writing implements out of said receivers to prevent their withdrawl, and the other notch of each of said pairs is arranged, with respect to said panel portion, said writing implement receiving portion and said laterally projecting portion, to position said writing implement receivers outside of the extension of said laterally projecting portion so that said laterally projecting portion does not interfere with movement of Writing implements out of said receivers.

9. The display stand of claim 8 wherein said laterally projecting portion and said receivers are disposed on one side of said panel portion, and including latch means supported on the opposite side of said panel for movement into and out of the path of movement of said holder for selectively interfering with movement of said holder between its first and second positions.

10. A display stand comprising, in combination,

a vertical support member having a panel portion, a

vertically extending portion defining a stop extending laterally of said panel portion, and a vertical slot spaced horizontally from said stop,

a writing implement holder having a writing implement receiving portion and mounting means positioned in said slot for movement therein,

said writing implement receiving portion including means defining a plurality of relatively vertically spaced writing implement receivers each disposed at an equal angle to the vertical and opening toward said stop,

one of said mounting means and said panel portion including vertically spaced pin means fixed thereon and the other including vertically spaced pairs of pin receiving notches, the notches of each pair being horizontally spaced apart and having open communication therebetween so that relative horizontal movement between said pin means and notches can be effected to engage said pin means selectively in one of said notches and to move said holder relative to said panel portion between first and second positions determined by said notches,

one notch of each of said pairs arranged, with respect to said panel portion, said receivers and said stop, to position said writing implement receivers within the lateral projection of said stop when said pin means are engaged therein so that said stop is disposed in the path of movement of Writing implements out of said receivers and the other notch of each of said pairs arranged, with respect to said panel portion, said receivers and said stop, to position said writing implement receivers outside of the lateral projection of said stop so that said stop does not interfere with movement of writing implements out of said receivers.

11. A display stand comprising, in combination,

a support member having an elongated panel portion, a portion extending laterally of one side of said panel portion and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said panel portion, and an elongated slot extending generally parallel to said axis,

a writing implement holder having a writing implement receiving portion and mounting means engaged in said slot for movement therein,

said writing implement receiving portion including means defining a plurality of relatively vertically spaced writing implement receivers disposed on said one side of said panel portion and opening toward said laterally extending portion of said support membet,

and pin and slot means connecting said holder and support for relative movement therebetween to move said holder laterally of said panel portion, said pin and slot means operative to selectively arrange said holder in a first position relative to said panel portion with said laterally extending portion disposed in the path of movement of writing implements from said receivers and in a second position relative to said panel portion with said receivers disposed so that said laterally extending portion is spaced from said path of movement.

12. The display stand of claim 11 including latch means supported on the opposite side of said panel portion for movement into the path of movement of said holder to engage and limit its movement to an amount insufficient to move said holder from its first to its second position and out of that path of movement to free said holder for movement to its second position.

13. A display stand comprising, in combination,

a support member,

a plurality of writing implement receiving means,

means connecting said writing implement receiving means to said support member and for lateral movement relative thereto, said connecting means determining first and second positions of said writing implement receiving means relative to said support member and defining a tortuous path having a substantial horizontal and vertical component of movement for said receiving means in effecting said lateral movement to move said writing implement receiving means between its two positions,

and means connected with said support member and defining a stop extending laterally of said support member and having a predetermined extension from said support member such that when said writing implement receiving means are in said first position said stop is generally aligned therewith and when said Writing implement receiving means are in said second position said surface terminates in spaced 7 relation from said writing implement receiving.

means. 14. A display stand for writing implements comprising', in combination,

abase, I a body member extending vertically from said base and including a panel portion, at least one vertically extending port-ion defining a surface disposed laterally of said panel portion, and an elongated, vertically extending slot spaced horizontally from said lateral surface,

a Writing implement holder including a planar mounting portion disposed in said slot for movement therein, a writing implement receiving portion spaced from said lateral surface, and a base portion intermediatersaid receiving and mounting portions,

said receiving portion including a plurality of vertically spaced hollow receivers arranged in relative parallel relation and each disposed at an angle to the vertical and opening toward said lateral surface,

said mounting portion including a plurality of generally U-shaped apertures each including horizontally spaced, upwardly directed legs connected by an opening,

pin means fixed on said panel portion and engaged in each of said apertures,

said holder being movable on said pin means relative to said body member for selectively engaging said pin meanstin said legs to determine first and second positions of said holder relative to said body memher, in said first position said holder arranged with said base portion in engagement with said panel portion and said receivers positioned within the extension of said lateral surface so that said lateral surface interferes with movement of said writing implements from said receivers and in said second position said holder arranged with said base portion spaced from said panel portion and said receivers positioned outside of the extension of said lateral surface so that writing implements are clear of said lateral surface for removal from said display stand,

and latch means mounted on said body member for movement into a position in the path of movement of said holder to engage and limit travel thereof to an amount insufficient to move said holder from its first position to its second position and out of said posit-ion in said path of movement to free said holder for movement to its second position.

References .Cited by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,334,839 11/43 Purchas 206-16 2,916,156 12/59 Larson 211-69 2,987,192 6/61 Metzler et a1, 211-4 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY STAND FOR WRITING IMPLEMENTS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BASE, A BODY MEMBER EXTENDING VERTICALLY FROM SAID BASE AND INCLUDING A PANEL PORTION, AT LEAST ONE VERTICAL PORTION DEFINING A SURFACE EXTENDING LATERALLY OF SAID PANEL PORTION, AND AN ELONGATED, VERTICALLY EXTENDING SLOT SPACED HORIZONTALLY FROM SAID LATERAL SURFACE, A WRITING IMPLEMENT HOLDER INCLUDING A PLANAR MOUNTING PORTION DISPOSED IN SAID SLOT FOR MOVEMENT THEREIN AND A WRITING IMPLEMENT RECEIVING PORTION SPACED FROM SAID LATERAL SURFACE, SAID RECEIVING PORTION INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED HOLLOW RECEIVERS ARRANGED IN RELATIVE PARALLEL RELATION AND EACH DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE TO THE VERTICAL AND OPENING TOWARD SAID LATERAL SURFACE, SAID MOUNTING PORTION INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY U-SHAPED APERTURES EACH INCLUDING HORIZONTALLY SPACED, UPWARDLY DIRECTED LEGS CONNECTED BY AN OPENING, AND PIN MEANS FIXED ON SAID PANEL PORTION AND ENGAGED IN EACH OF SAID APERTURES, SAID HOLDER BEING MOVABLE ON SAID PIN MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID BODY MEMBER FOR SELECTIVELY ENGAGING SAID PIN MEANS IN SAID LEGS TO DETERMINE FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS OF SAID HOLDER RELATIVE TO SAID BODY MEMBER WITH ONE POSITION BEING SPACED LATERALLY OF THE OTHER POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID PANEL PORTION, SAID LATERAL SURFACE HAVING A PREDETERMINED EXTENSION FROM SAID PANEL PORTION TO BE POSITIONED IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF WRITING IMPLEMENTS FROM SAID RECEIVERS WHEN SAID HOLDER IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION AND TO BE SPACED FROM SAID PATH OF MOVEMENT WHEN SAID HOLDER IS IN ITS SECOND POSITION. 